Door locking mechanism



June 30, 1942. A. c. FINDLAY I 2,287,980

DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 23, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet l June 30, 1 942. g, FlNDLAY 2,287,980

DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 23, 1939 7 Sheets Shee t 2 June 30, 1942. A. c. FINDLAY DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 25, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet s Jun so, 1942. c, N LAY: 2,287,980

DOOR LOCKING' MECHANISM Filed Oct. 23, 1939 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 II I:

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r I l \IIIIIIIIIIII 7! June 30, 1942.

A. c. FINDLAY 2,287,980

DOCR LOCKING MECHANISM I I F'iied Oct. 25, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 30, 1942. c, F|NDLAYI 2,287,980

' DOOR LOCKINGMECHANISM Filed Oct. 25, 1939 TSheets-Sheet s June 1942. A. c. FINDLAY DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM Filed ooi. 25, 1939 7 Sheets-sheaf 7 mini-1. 5111 Patented June 30, 1942 UNETED STATS OFFICE 14 Claims.

My invention relates to new and improved locking and latching mechanism for doors, and more particularly to the locking and latching mechanism of a plurality of doors, say specifically those of an automobile, whereby any number or all of the doors may be locked or unlocked from one or more central lock-controlling stations, which may be placed either exteriorly or interiorly, or both, of the body.

Attempts have heretofore been made to produce a coincidental locking mechanism or system by which all of the doors of an automobile may be locked from a single station. It is desirable, although not essential, in a structure of this type: i

(1) That the system be simple and admit of easy manufacture and application for use;

(2) That, after looking, the door handles will be disassociated from their respective latch bolts so that movement of the door handles will be ineflective to cause any corresponding movement of the latch bolt;

(3) That the motion-transmitting mechanism from the interior or exterior central control to the other doors in the system be amply protected so that the insertion of sharp instruments or the like will be ineffective to force an opening of the door; and,

(4) That the action of locking from the exterior should be so related to the action of looking from the interior as to be independent thereof, thus rendering it impossible, when the vehicle has been locked from the outside, to effect an entrance by breaking a window or the like to open the doors from the interior.

These features and others have been disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,180,819, granted to me November '21, 1939. However, it has been found that another and important re-' quirement must be taken into consideration in coincidental locking systems of this character if they are to fully serve their purpose. Provisions should be made so that when any one of the doors in the system is open or improperly latched, it will be impossible to lock the remaining door or doors, either from the interior or from the exterior.

It is, therefore, a broad object of my invention to provide a multiple door locking construction wherein .none of. the doors. may be locked while one remains open or is latched.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive locking system, which,

due to its construction and arrangement of improperly parts,wili readily admit of easy manufacture and installation and embody substantially all the essential requisites of a structure of this type.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a door locking and latching system which may be readily capable of meeting the requirements of. all types of vehicles.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description when taken in connection .with the accompanying drawings.

:In the; drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates ansembodiment of the invention as applied to an automobile of the sedan type having its doors opening forwardly. of the body; l

Fig. 2. is a diagrammatic illustration of the locking mechanism employed in the type of sedan shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the invention as applied to an automobile of the sedan type having its front and rear doors opening in opposed relation;

. Fig. 4 illustrates diagrammatically the look ing mechanism employed in the type of sedan shown in Fig. 3; l

Fig. 5, is an enlarged perspective view of that part of the locking mechanism embodied in the door employing key means for operating the locking mechanism of all the doors, this structure being known as the master lock or exterior central control;

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the same structure but looking at it from a different angle;

Fig.. '7 is a perspective view similar to Fig.

but illustrating the locking mechanism embodied in the doors omitting the ke means, bein known as the controlled mechanism; Fig. 8 is'an :elevational view of the structure shown in Figs, 5 and 6, effecting an exterior locking operation with the, parts in position to effect normal latching of the door;

Fig. 9 is a similar view, but showing the parts in a normal unlatched position;

Fig, 10 is also a similar view, but showing the position of the parts when the first two steps in the locking operation have been performed, that is, the key has been turned in the look and the door handle has been moved to effect actuation of the locking mechanism;

Fig, 11 is a similar view illustrating the parts in the same position as shown in Fig. 10' but with the key withdrawn;

Fig. 12 discloses the positions of the parts when the door handle has been moved but the latch bolt and its cooperating elements are no longer in position to be affected by the aforesaid motion, that is to say, the door has been locked, this view illustrating the manner of freeing the handles from the bolts to prevent forcing of the lock by pressure on the handles when in their locking position;

Fig. 13 is an elevational veiw of the structure shown in Fig. '7 omitting the key means and herein called the controlled lock structure, the parts being shown in normally latched position;

Fig. 14 is a similar view, but illustrating the parts in position of the first stage of the locking operation;

Fig. 15 is also a similar view, but showing the parts in locked position;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged section substantially along line Iii-l6 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged section along line Il--l1 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary section of the lock cylinder substantially as illustrated in Fig. 17, but with the parts in a position to eifect locking;

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary section taken on line l9l9 of Fig. 8;

Fig, 20 is a fragmentary edge view of an automobile door to which my invention has been applied;

Fig. 21 illustrates somewhat diagrammatically the action of the mechanism employed in my construction for preventing the locking of any door while the master door remains open or improperly latched, and is here shown with the door closed;

Fig. 22 illustrates the changed position of the mechanism shown in Fig. 21 when the door is open or improperly latched;

Fig. 23 discloses the mechanism by which the locking action of the interior locking means may be transmitted to the other doors in the system to effect a looking or unlocking operation, and further shows the device by which the locking of any doors will be prevented when any of the several doors of the system are open;

Fig. 24 illustrates a position of the above described mechanism when all the doors are closed;

Fig. 25 is a sectional view substantially n the line 25-25 of Fig. 23;

Fig. 26 shows a mechanism for transmitting the motion of either an interior or exterior locking operation to other doors in the system and would preferably be used with a construction such as is shown in Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 27 illustrates a modification employing a single disabling pawl for the key-controlled or master locking mechanism; and

Fig. 28 illustrates a modification employing a single disabling pawl for the controlled locking mechanisms.

The mechanism shown herein and embodying the invention is capable of a rather broad application and may be embodied in automobiles having their doors opening in different directions, Figs. 1 and 3' illustrating bodies of the sedan type employing front and rear doors, it being evident from these two illustrations that from the practical standpoint there is no limitation with respect to the arrangement of the parts comprising the invention, and their embodiment in automobile bodies of the four-door or two-door type, or any other arrangement of doors, may be varied as desired.

It will be also understood at the outset that although the invention is illustrated in the drawings as being particularly adapted to looking of doors of an automobile, the construction shown may be employed in locking any number of doors thereof, or trunk doors or other parts of the vehicle, or all or any number of doors of structures other than automobile vehicles.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and more particularly, to Figs. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a lock and latch mechanism for each door, the same being designated as Z, 3, 4 and 5, each lock being provided with an exterior cooperating handle 6 and an interior cooperating handle I. It may be noted further that each lock is provided with a housing 8 having a cover 8 (see Fig. 16) and a latch bolt l2, which acts normally to keep the door latched in closed position. Each bolt l2 acts to keep the doors either locked or latched in accordance with the disposition of the other cooperating elements. These latter elements, apart from those within the housing 8 of each lock structure, comprise pivotally mounted discs I4 for the interior central control mechanism and discs [5 for the exterior central control mechanism. Motion is transmitted either to or from these discs, in a manner to be fully described later, by means of link pins to be hereinafter described and by means of flexible connections l6 and ll of any suitable type adapted to be arranged within the body of the vehicle in any suitable way to readily transmit motion.

The construction of the locking system, shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is substantially similar to that just described, the principal exceptions being that the lock structures 2 and 3, and the lock structures 4 and 5 are arranged oppositely. The means for transmitting motion from the exterior central centrol mechanism of structure 2 to the other lock structures in this case comprises pivotally mounted discs l5a and I5b, each set of discs having intermeshing teeth I8 and I9.

Referring to Fig. 4, the interior locking operation may be effected by means of an interior central control specifically illustrated herein as a small toggle lever 20, properly positioned within the vehicle, preferably within convenient reach of the driver, and secured to motion transmitting wire |1. Thus, motion applied to the lever 20 will be transmitted through the wire I! to intermeshing toothed discs 14a and Mb and from thence will be transmitted to the lock structures 2, 3, 4 and 5.

In the same manner, the interior locking operation in the system shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be effected by means of a similar toggle lever 20, or the like, properly and conveniently positioned in the vehicle and carried by or otherwise connected to wire [1. The showings in Figs. 2 and 4 are solely diagrammatic in this regard.

It will now be clear that my invention consists of a coincidental locking system providing interior and exterior locking operations. The exterior locking operation is effected through a plurality of parts comprising a central control, such as a key-operated device and motion transmitting mechanism for operating the several lock structures in the system. The interior locking operation is effected through somewhat similar parts but has an internally manually operable element as a central control which has been described above as element 20. These parts are so arranged and so operated as to comprise a unitary locking system. With the vehicle locked by the interior central control, it is impossible to gain access to the interior of the vehicle by a key fitting the exterior central control, and before access may be gained to the interior, it is necessary for the interior central control to be moved to unlocked position. With the vehicle locked by the exterior central control, it is impossible to release the locking mechanism to open the doors by breaking the windows and actuating the interior central control or the interior door handles.

It is believed that the foregoing will make clear the general purposes and functions of the system as a whole, and consequently, the specific details of construction as embodied in this disclosure will now be described.

The construction of the key-controlled or master locking mechanism, known as the central station or exterior central control, is shown gen erally in Figs. and 6, While the various positions of its parts during operation are shown in Figs. 8 to 12, inclusive. As shown, housing 8 or its equivalent is adapted to carry cylinder 22. Exterior handle 6 is mounted upon a shaft 23 extending into housing 8. Shaft 23 has fixedly secured thereto a link 24 which transmits the movement of handle 6 to the interior of the lock. Springs 25 and 2B are arranged so as to maintain the link 24 in what may be regarded as a normal position by means of the pin 21 and the pin 28, the latter being secured to housing 8 and being designed to prevent either of the springs 25 or 26 from acting while the other is under tension.

Secured to link 24 by means of a pivot pin 29 is a cross link 38 which cooperates at its other end with a draw link 32 by means of a stud pin 33 riding in an elongated slot 3|. Movement of link 24 by handle 6 in a clockwise direction, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, will cause a counterclockwise movement of link 32 by means of link 31 Integral with link 32 and bent inwardly therefrom is a hooked portion 34 arranged to engage a hook 35 on a latch bolt link 36. This link 35 is secured to latch bolt i2 by a pin 37 and has a pressure exerted downwardly thereon by means of a spring 33 carried by pin 3? and attached at 38' to link 35. Counterclockwise movement of link 32 about its pivot 32a will cause a Withdrawal of the latch bolt l2 from its keeper.

A link 39 having a slot .9 is connected by means of a pin 49a to link 32. Link 39 is pivotally connected to interior handle 7 by means of a pin :12, which handle 1 may be pivoted at 4!, so that when it is turned clockwise about its pivot it, as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6, link 32 will be actuated in a counter-clockwise direction about its pivot 32a. When exterior handle 6 operates link 32 in this direction through link 38, pin 453a will slide in the slot 40 and prevent operation of handle 1. When handle 7 operates link 32, pin 33 will slide in slot 3i and prevent operation of handle 6. Hence, movement of either handle will not effect movement of the other handle.

Referring again to link 32, it may be noted that the same is secured at its lower extremity by a pivot pin 32a about which it moves. Secured to the pin 32a is a coil spring 322) fixed at one end to the pin 32c and at the other end to link 32 in such a manner as to cause the said link to return to normal position after it has been actuated by handles 6 and I. However, spring 32a is not sufficiently strong to overcome spring 25 through movement of link 24.

Each lock mechanism is preferably provided with two sets of pins, the upper set being designated 59 and 56, and the lower set being designated 55 and 56. The inner ends of these pins are pivoted to a pair of discs 44 and 45, pivotally carried by a pintle $3. Pintle :13 is preferably carried in housing 8 and its cover plate 8. Upper pins 59 and 5! are connected to discs M and 45 at the points designated 52. Lower pins 55 and 5 6 are connected to discs 44 and 45 in a similar manner at 52. Discs 44 and 45 are provided with projecting elements t? and 48 which are adapted to strike against the underside of and lift a pin 49 when either of discs 44 or 45 is rotated in clockwise direction. This lug 59 extends at right angles from the upper edge of link 36, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. Link 36 is then lifted when either disc 14 or 45 is rotated in a clockwise direction in order to disconnect handles 6 and 7 from latch bolt !2 by breaking the connection between hooked portions 34 and 35.

The pivotal connections 52 and 52' are so arranged with respect to the mounting of discs M and 45 that movement of disc A l will reciprocate pins 59 and 55, to-wit, clockwise rotation of disc fi l will extend pin 56 beyond housing 8 and will withdraw pin 55 into housing 8 whereas counterclockwise rotation will withdraw pin 50 and will extend pin 55. When disc 46 is rotated to its position shown in Fig. 8, wherein the parts are shown in position of normal latching, the ends of pins 59 and 55 will be flush with the exterior of the side of housing 8. Likewise, clockwise rotation of disc '95 will extend pin 5| and withdraw pin 56, whereas counterclockwise rotation will withdraw pin 5! and extend pin 58. Conversely, a movement of pin 55 or 5i to the left Will rotate disc "is or 415 counterclockwise and will produce a movement of pin 55 or 56 to the right. I preferably provide bearings 51 and 58 for supporting the outer ends of lower pins 55 and 56 when they are moved inwardly in the course of their operation, as will be hereinafter described, and to guide them into the openings provided for them in housing 8 as they are subsequently projected outwardly.

It will now be clear that movement of the push pin 5i to the right will cause it to extend beyond the, slot 56 and will cause the push link 56 to be withdrawn into its bearing 58 and will further cause a rotary motion to be applied to the disc 45. In this manner, link 35 through projections t8 and as will effect disengagement of the hooks 34 and 35 by lifting hook 35 out of engagement with hook 34. When these members are thus disengaged, movement of draw link 32 will no longer be effective to cause a corresponding movement of latch bolt 12. Moreover, at this time, handle 5 may be moved until the link 2 strikes a stop pin 59 and the latch bolt will remain unmoved.

To effect movement of push pin 5i, lock cylinder 22 has an extension in the form of a pin 59. See Figs. 5, 8-12, 17 and 18. In Fig. 17, the key 62 is shown inserted in the look, while in Fig. 18 it is shown rotated approximately causing pin 60 to be raised and to lift therewith a link 64. The position of pin 58 and link 5 in Fig. 1'7 corresponds to the position of these elements in Fig. 5. Link M is provided with a guide slot 65. A pin t secured to the wall of housing 8 is adapted to ride in slot 35. Link 64 carries a pivot pin 61 having an elongated bar 38 attached thereto, the upper end of which is adapted to extend between and to be engaged by lugs 69 and iii of push pin 54. The lower extremity of bar 68 is adapted to strike against either side of a fixed pin 7 l. Lifting link 64 will cause a corresponding lifting movement of bar 68, which will be raised sufficiently to be engaged by a lug 12 on the link 30, and which will at the same time clear the pin ll. Thus, when the key has been turned in the lock and the link 64 and the bar 68 have been raised, movement of exterior handle 6 in non-bolt retracting position will move links 24 and 30 and cause bar 68 to press against lug 10 whereby pin 5! will move outwardly through opening 54. Fig. illustrates this action clearly. While these elements are maintained in the position shown in Fig. 10, key 62 is returned to its position, as shown in Fig. 11, thus lowering the bar 68 to clearing 12 on bar 30. The handle may then be released from whence it will return to normal position and carry with it its cooperating elements, which will also, of course, return to their respective normal position, but push pin 5| will remain extended, as shown in Fig. 12, until the aforedescribed procedure has been reversed. However, it will not be necessary in every instance to hold handle 6 until key 62 is returned to normal position because friction in flexible cables l6 may be relied upon to prevent undesirable restoration to unlocked position before key 62 is thus returned.

An angularly disposed lug 36a is secured preferably to the inner wall of housing 8, as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and is provided with a guide portion 36b arranged to overlie hook portion 35 of link 36. When link 36 is raised to effect disengagement between hooks 34 and 35, the lateral wall of lug 36a will lie in close proximity to the outer edge of hook 35, whereby rearward movement of link 36, while in raised position, is prevented. It will, therefore, be impossible to withdraw latch bolt l2 from its locked position by forcing this latch bolt through picking, or otherwise.

In order to restrict the range of movement of pins 50, 5|, 55 and 56, discs 44 and 45 are each provided with lugs 44a and 45a arranged to lie in the path of a fixed pin 43a secured to, say, housing 8 so that movement of discs 44 and 45 in either direction will cause one of these lugs to strike pin 43a and thus limit the movement of the discs. Pins 50, 51, 55 and 56 are, consequently, prevented from being abnormally projected from or withdrawn into housing 8 and are accordingly held within a normal operating range.

Figs. 8 to 12, inclusive, illustrate the master lock mechanism or exterior central control and its parts in their various positions of operation. Fig. 8 shows the various parts in an unlocked but latched position. In this position, hook members 34 and 35 are engaged and discs 44 and 45 are in normal unlocked position. The outer ends of push pins 50, 5|, 55 and 56 lie substantially within their openings 53, 54, 5'! and 58 in side wall 13 of housing 8.

Fig. 9 shows the position of the parts when the exterior door handle 6 has been moved to effect a normal unlatching operation. In this view, it will be clear that the movement of links 24, 30 and 32 will efiect withdrawal of bolt l2 to permit the door to be opened. Unlatching of bolt 12 by interior handle 1 will be effected in substantially the same manner, link 32 being moved in this instance by link 39 instead of link 30. When link 32 is moved by link 39, pin 33 is free to ride in slot 3| in link 30 without moving the latter.

Essentially, unlatching movement is effected by swinging link 32 in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot 32a so that its hook portion 34 engaging hook 35 will move link 36 to the left, as shown in Fig. 9, to withdraw latch bolt [2 from its keeper. The simplicity of the parts provided to carry out the present invention will readily be appreciated in connection with this operation, because either exterior handl 6 or interior handle I has control of the latch bolt to withdraw it from latching position as long as hooks 34 and 35 engage each other. However, separation of these hooks 34 and 35, caused by the lifting of link 36 upwardly about its pivot 31, against the action of spring 38, breaks operating relation between either of these handles and the latch bolt.

,Fig. 10 illustrates the position of the parts of the master lock mechanism after key 62 has been inserted and turned and further, after exterior handle fi has been moved to set the parts in locked position. Releasing exterior handle 6 to allow its return to normal latching position of bolt [2 allows link 24 to assume the position shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 8, as the result of spring 26 being relieved of the tension it is placed under by pin 21 when handle 6 is moved to unlatching position. Spring 26 tends to keep link 24 in its normal latching position, as shown for example in Fig. 8, until pressure is exerted upon exterior handle 6 to cause pin 21 to bear against spring 25 and place it under tension. Link 24 is then moved to the position shown in Fig. 10. This movement is limited by one end of link 3|] preferably striking side Wall 13 of housing 8. Consequently, the movement of the handle to effect the locking operation is predetermined to effect a predetermined movement of these parts to their locking position and prevent any forcing that.

would cause the parts to be ruptured. Insertion of key 62 in look cylinder 22 and a 180 movement thereof effects a lifting movement of link 64 and bar 68. The upper end of bar 68 is then raised beyond lug I2 on link 30, the lower end being raised above fixed pin H. Movement of exterior handle 6 in a counterclockwise direction to cause pin 21 to place spring 25 under tension, as just described, whereby link 24 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 10, causes lug 12 to bear against bar 68 and tilt the same in clockwise direction about its pivot 61 at the lower end of link 64. This tilting movement of bar 68 forces it against lug IE! on pin 5| to move this link to the right whereby to rotate disc 45 clockwise until its lug 44a strikes against fixed pin 43a. Projecting element 48 of. disc 45 is swung upwardly against lug 49 to lift link 36 and break engagement between its hook 35 and hook portion 34 on link 32. If any one of the doors of the system is not closed, link 5! will be prevented from being moved to the right whereby to disable the locking operation that results therefrom. The means provided to prevent this locking operation under such conditions will be presently described.

Fig. 11 illustrates the parts in locked position after key 62 has been removed and exterior door handle 6 returned to normal position. T0 withdraw key 62, it is preferable to return it to its original position. Its pin 60 will swing downwardly to its lower position, as shown in Fig. 11, thus lowering link 64 and bar 68. Upper end of bar 68 is then withdrawn from its position between lug "i2 and 12a on link 36. Fig. 12 illustrates these parts in a position of complete locking and the result of operating exterior handle 6 at this time. With hook portion 34 disengaged from hook 35, it is impossible to move link 36 and withdraw bolt |2 by movement of link 32, either by links 35 and 24 operable by exterior handle 6 or by link 36 operable by interior handle I.

The controlled locking structure for the other doors in the system is shown in perspective in Fig. '7 and its parts in various operating positions in Figs. 13 to 15. Each structure includes discs 45 and 44 carried upon pintle 43 supported by housing 8. Upper push pins 55 and are pivotally connected at 52 to discs 44 and 45, and lower push pins 55 and 55 are pivotally connected at 52 to discs 44 and 45. Push pins 55, 5|, 55 and 56 operate substantially in the same manner as corresponding push pins in the master locking structure shown in Fig. 6. Each latch bolt I2 is likewise provided with link 36 having a hook 35 cooperating with a hook portion 34 on link 32.

Link 32 is provided with pin 33 adapted to ride in slot 3| in link 30. Link 30 is connected at 29 to link operated by exterior handle 5 in the samemanner as heretofore described. Discs 44 and 55 are provided with projections 61 and 48, respectively, adapted to bear against right angular lug 49 secured or fixed to link 35. When either disc 44 or 45 is rotated in a clockwise direction by operation of the push pins, either projection M or 48 will lift lug 49 and link 35 to separate the engagement between hook 35 and hook portion 34 whereby both handles 5 and 7 are disconnected from latch bolt I2. Operation of exterior handle 5 moves link to the left to cause tilting of link 32 about its pivot 32a. Tilting movement of link 32 will result in rearward movement of link 36 to withdraw latch bolt 12 from the keeper to permit the door to be opened. A similar operation is obtained through the-actuation of interior handle 1. Its link 39 will tilt link 32 about its pivot point 32a and against the action of spring 32b to withdraw link 33 rearwardly, and consequently, unlatch the bolt |2. When either handle is released, spring 32b will tend to return link 32 to its normal position. Spring 25 will function to return lever 24 to its normal position when handle 5 is actuated. The simple construction of the controlled locking structure is practically the same as employed for master lock mechanism 2 having the key-operated means to eifect a locking operation.

Fig. 13 illustrates the parts of the controlled locking structure in normal latching relation which is substantially the same as shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 14 illustrates the same locking structures with its parts in looking position. Fig. 15 illustrates the same structure with the parts in a locking position after the handle is released to illustrate the manner in which both handles may be disconnected from the latch bolt.

The key-operated means of the master lock of all the doors, and therefore, operates disc 45 and its push pins 5| and 56 of each locking structure. Disc 54 and its push pins 58 and 55 will operate to effect an interior locking operation or its equivalent. Consequently, disc 4 and its pins 55 and 55 are omitted from the master lock mechanism, as shown in Figs. 8 to 12, inclusive. In Figs. 13 to 15, inclusive, both discs M and 55 and all their pins are illustrated but only disc 58 and its pins 55 and 55 are illustrated in their different positions of operation that will result from effecting an interior locking operation. It will sufiice to say that disc 45 and its pins 5| :60 mechanism effects the exterior locking operation v upon actuation of manually operated member 2!! and 56 will operate in substantially the same way and assume substantially the same positions when an exterior locking operation is effected through the master lock mechanism and movement of its pins is transmitted to the control structures in the other doors of the system.

It is possible at times for one or more doors of an automobile to be open or improperly latched without the operator of the vehicle being aware of this condition at the time of efiecting either an exterior or an interior locking operation. If one or more doors should remain open or partially latched, the benefits to be derived from a looking system of the type herein described would be largely nullified. Consequently, provisions have been made in the structure herein disclosed to disable the operation of the movable parts with one or more doors open or improperly latched so that it will be impossible for either the exterior central control or the interior central control.

to operate and effect a locking operation. Failure of the key-operated means 22 or the manual element 28 to operate will immediately indicate to the operator that all the doors are not fully closed. The operator will thereby be required to close all doors before operating either central control and will not find at a later time that one of the doors had not been locked and access to the interior of the vehicle was'possible because all the doors appeared closed but one had been deceptively held partially closed by the safety latch only.

This disabling mechanism comprises essentially a blocking device in the form of springpressed pivotally mounted pawls or equivalent members adapted to be operated by the movement of the door to closed position. These pawls may be carried either by the doors or by the frames adjacent the doors. The drawings illustrate the pawls in the front right door, that usually carries the key-operated lock, and in the adjacent frames for the other doors, but it is apparent that all the doors may carry these pawls and that, if desired, these pawls may be provided in all the frames and not in any of the doors. Referring particularly to Figs. 5, 6, and 8 to 12, inclusive, the exterior and interior looking operations will be afiected by the position of the door carrying the master lock mechanism 2 through a set of pawls 85, both carried upon a pin 85. Pin 56 may be disposed between and carried by opposite walls of housing 8. Pawls are disposed between push pins 50 and 5|, and 55 and 55, adjacent the side wall '13 of housing 8 whereby their forward fingers 81 are adapted to extend through openings 88 in side wall 13 and their rear fingers 89 are adapted to move in the path of lugs 30 extending at right angles and carried by push pins 50 and 5|. When rear fingers 85 of pawls 85 are in the path of lugs 90 of push pins 55 and 5|, the latter are blocked against movement so as to prevent both the exterior and interior locking operations. Coil springs 9| are disposed about pin 86 and have one end bearing against the lower portion of forward fingers 35 and the other end bearing against wall '53. Springs 9| serve to tilt pawls 85 forwardly in order to project their forward fingers 5? through slots 88, thus bringing the rear fingers 53 upwardly and against lugs 98 to block movement of push pins 50 and 5|. It will be apparent that whenever the door carrying this look structure is in open position, springs 9| will tilt pawls 85 to the position just described whereby to disable both the exterior and the interior locking operations. Fig. illustrates disabling pawls 85 in their position when the door is in closed position. Fig. 6 illustrates disabling pawls 85 in their disabling position when the door is in open position. The effective manner by which these disabling pawls 85 function to prevent operation of the key-controlled means and the manual lever 20 to effect exterior and interior locking operations will be obvious from Figs. 5 and 6.

Whenever the door is moved to closed position, disabling pawls 85 are readily cammed into the position shown in Fig. 5 by means of a cam surface 92 disposed upon the surface of the keeper 93. See Figs. 8 to 12, 21 and 22.

Each controlled lock mechanism may be provided with cooperating disabling pawls 95 shown in detail in Figs. 23 and24. In Figs. l3, l4 and 15, these disabling pawls 95 are shown in cooperating relation with a door. In either system shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the discs I4 and I5 or the toothed discs Ma and I5a for the controlled lock mechanisms will be cut away at 96 to provide shoulders 91. Disabling pawls 95 may be pivotally mounted in proximity to these discs so that their rear fingers 98 will engage shoulders 91 to block rotation of the discs when the forward fingers 99 project through openings I00 in the adjacent wall of the door frame. Pawls 95 may be mounted at IOI and have springs I02 tending to tilt the forward fingers 99 forwardly through openings I00. This action will bring rear fingers 98 into blocking relation with shoulders 91. Consequently, it will be impossible to operate the exterior or the interior central control until each door has been closed. The doors carrying the controlled lock mechanisms are designated for the purposes of convenience as I12 in Fig. 24. Doors IIZ are provided with cam surfaces I 03 adapted to engage and cam forward fingers 99 inwardly through openings I00 when these doors are swung to fully closed position. It will be understood that cam surfaces I03 will be so arranged on the side face or closing edge of doors I I2 that they will not effect the proper camming action of disabling fingers 95 to release the blocking relation with either of discs I 4 or I 40. until each door has been completely closed and latch bolt I2 dropped into latching relation, permitting normal operation of the lock structure. The position of disabling fingers 95, when this blocking relation with these discs is broken, is shown in Fig. 24.

From the foregoing explanation it will be apparent that the disabling means disclosed herein, both for the exterior central control and the interior central control, is merely illustrative of an efiicient form of structure that may be employed to accomplish the desired result, and that being illustrative only; this disabling mechanism may be embodied in various ways in a locking structure of the types disclosed without departing from the scope of the invention.

As previously stated, the means for transmitting the movement of the exterior and interior central controls or looking devices 22 and 20, respectively, and the other doors to disable the normal operating relation between either handles and their bolts whereby to prevent withdrawal of said bolts and the opening of these other doors, has been shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, and Fig. 26. Describing first this means as employed on a sedan type of automobile body having the doors hinged to open in opposite relation, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 26, wherein the front and rear doors on each side are latched in keepers on an intermediate jamb or stile post, toothed discs Ma, Mb, I5a and I5b are arranged in intermeshing opposed pairs respectively and pivoted within a stile post I05. Intermeshing discs Ma and Mb are each provided with a pair of upper and lower pins I06 and I 01. The two intermeshing discs I5a and I5b of each pair are each provided with a pair of upper and lower pins I08 and I99. Pins I06 and I98 are preferably shorter than pins I01 and I09. These upper pins I06 and I98 are adapted to align with upper pins 50 and 5! in each locking mechanism while the lower pins I01 and I99 are adapted to align with lower pins 55 and 56.

As previously stated, lower pins 55 and 56 of each locking mechanism are shorter than upper pins 50 and 5|, and are, therefore, preferably guided in bearing blocks 51 and 58, the purpose of which is to keep these lower pins 55 and 56 in alignment with pins I 01 and I09 when the former are withdrawn into housing 8. In View of the length of upper pins 59 and 5|, it is preferable to provide a headed tip IIO upon each pin I06 and I08 so that any play of these longer pins 50 and 5| will not throw them out of alignment with these pins I06 and I98. If desired, the side walls of intermediate stile post I05 may be provided with cylindrical members I I I to provide adequate bearing surfaces for heads IIO. A toothed disc of one of the pairs, say toothed disc I4a, is adapted to have flexible connection I! connected thereto, which flexible connection may be entrained across the body of the car to the corresponding toothed disc Ma. on the opposite side of the car. Flexible connection I6 may connect with either toothed disc I5a or I5 2) at one side of the car body and extend across the car body to the opposite side in order to connect with either toothed disc I 5a or I5b on this opposie side so that the exterior locking operation effected by the key-controlled means, designated broadly as 22, may be transmitted to the lock structures 4 and 5 on the opposite side of the car. It will be apparent that this locking operation is transmitted from lock structure 2 to lock structure 3 through discs I5a and I5b. In order to transmit this locking operation to lock structures 4 and 5, flexible connection I6 is suitably arranged to extend from one side to the opposite side of the car body. It is to be understood that flexible connections I6 and I1, shown in either Figs. 2 or 4, may be arranged in any practical manner or be of any desirable material to accomplish their function of transmitting the locking operations herein described.

More specifically describing the operation of the means for transmitting movement of either of the central controls or looking devices 22 and 20, it will be noted that in the event the keyoperated means 22 is actuated to lock the righthand front door of an automobile, the upper longer pin 5I will move outwardly to project through its opening 54 in housing 8 of locking mechanism 2 to engage the upper outside shorter pin I08 carried by the outside toothed disc I la. This action will move the outer pin I98 to the right, as shown in Fig. 4, to rotate outer toothed disc I5a clockwise about its pivotal mounting. The outside intermeshing toothed disc I 5b will likewise rotate, but counterclockwise, thereby causing the lower outside longer pin I99 to project inwardly in bearing 58 of locking mechanism 3 to move pins 56 inwardly whereby to rotate disc 45 and to lift link 36 through cross lug 49 and to break engagement between hook portion 34 and hook 35. As previously explained, lifting link 35 to break engagement between hook 35 and hook portion 34 disables the operating connection between the handles and the bolt of each locking mechanism so that the movement thereafter of the handles will be ineffective to unlatch bolts 22 from their keepers. Clockwise movement of outer toothed disc I541. draws the flexible conn ction It downwardly or towards that side of the car to result in an upward movement of this flexible connection on the opposite side of the car whereby to rotate the outer disc iSa clockwise and the outer disc I51) counterclockwise on this opposite side of the car. This rotational movement of these two outer discs Ia and I5b on the opposite side of the car will cause their lower pins I59 to project into and to press against lower pins 56 of locking mechanisms 4 and 5, thereby rotating discs .5 and lifting links 35, through cross lugs 49 of these locking mechanisms 4 and 5, thus breaking engagement between hook portion 34 and hook 35 and rendering both of these locking mechanisms inopersubstantially the same manner as previously ex-' plained, and both exterior and interior handles will be disconnected from latch bolts I2.

When it is desirable to unlock the doors, either by the key-operated means 22 if it has been used to lock the cars, or by the interior latch or lever 26 if the latter has been used, a reverse movement of either of the flexible connections I6 and I! will reestablish the operating connection between the handles and their bolts of both doors on the opposite sides of the car.

When the locking mechanisms 2, 3, 4 and 5 are embodied in the doors of an automobile of the sedan type having both front and back doors opening forwardly of the vehicle body, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a slightly different arrangement of discs and flexible connection will obtain. For instance, a single set of discs I4 and I5 will be disposed in a vehicle body along the adjoining edge of the right-hand front door carrying looking mechanism 2 having the key-operated means 22. which carries the locking mechanism 3, will also be provided with a set of discs I4 and I5. The same is true on the opposite side of the car provided in looking mechanisms 4 and 5 in the doors. The outside discs I5 of each set cooperating with looking mechanisms 2 and 3 will be connected by a flexible connection designated I6. The outside discs I5 cooperating with looking mechanisms 4 and 5 on the opposite side of the body are likewise connected by a flexible connection designated I6. Both flexible connections may then be connected by a cross connection in any suitable way to effect proper transmission of movement from one side of the car to the opposite side, as shown in Fig. 2. Similarly, discs I4 cooperating with locking mechanisms 2 and 3 are connected by flexible connection designated I'l. Discs I4 cooperating with locking mechanisms 4 and 5 are connected by flexible connection designated I'I. These flexible connections I! The connections The rear door on this side of the vehicle,

ill)

may then be connected by a cross connection II adapted to serve the same purpose as described for cross connection I6. Each disc It is provided with a short upper pin I96 and a long lower pin IIlI. Each disc I5 is provided with a short upper pin I08 and a long lower pin I09. These pins I06, I01, I08 and I09 function in the same manner as the corresponding pins associated with toothed discs Ma, I4b, I5a and I51), and will operate in the same manner as described in connection with the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4. It is, therefore, deemed unnecessary to detail the operation of these locking mechanisms, shown in Fig. 2, when either the key-operated means 22 or the manually operated lever 20 is actuated to effect either an exterior or an interior locking operation. The parts of each locking mechanism will operate in substantially the same manner as heretofore described.

Figs. 27 and 28 illustrate the use of a single disabling pawl 85 for the master locking mechanism 2 and a single disabling pawl 95 for the controlled locking mechanisms 2, 4 and 5 instead of two, as heretofore described, it being apparent that it is not essential that two be provided because a single pawl may function as efficiently. In Fig. 2'7, pawl 85 is carried upon pin 86' to cause its front end 81', by action of spring 9|, to project through opening 88' in wall I3 when the door carrying the lock structure 2 is open. The rear end 89a is, in this instance, provided with a reverse bend, as shown, in order to provide a cross part 89 adapted to lie in the path of both lugs 9|] on push pins and 5|. Outward movement of push pins 50 and 5| to effect a locking operation from the interior or exterior will be thereby prevented. By providing cross part 89' at the rear end 89a, only one pawl is required to disable the interior and exterior locking operations when the door is open.

Substantially the same arrangement obtains for the lock structures 3, 4 and 5. Pawl may have its rear finger 98a provided with a reverse bend to form a cross part 98' adapted to cooperate with shoulder 91 of both discs I4 and I5 as shown in Fig. 2, or I la-b and I5a-b as shown in Fig. 4. The operation of a single pawl 95' is substantially the same as two pawls, the only difference being that rear finger 98a cooperates through its cross part 98' with shoulders 91 of both discs. A single spring I02 on pin IIlI will tend to force pawl 95 into blocking position when the door is opened. In either instance, the interior and exterior locking operations are effectively prevented when any one of the doors carrying the lock structures 3, 4 and 5 is open.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the lock structures herein disclosed are simple in construction and effective to accomplish the purposes set forth. The exterior central control is capable of effecting a locking operation by key means exteriorly of the car, while the interior central control is capable of effecting a locking operation by any suitable means that may be readily operated by anyone inside the car, say for example, the driver. Neither control will operate to effect a locking operation if one or more of the doors are not in fully closed position. The mechanism shown and described herein to accomplish this purpose is merely illustrative of a mechanism that can be readily adopted. This mechanism is effective to disable the operation of either exterior or interior central control if the holdingmeans is not in proper position to keep the doors closed.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so full explain the gist of my invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adopt the same for use under varying conditions of service, without eliminating certain features, which may properly be said to constitute the essential items of novelty involved, which items are intended to be defined and secured to me by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A system for looking a plurality of doors from a single station comprising, in combination, a latch bolt associated with each door, a handle for each door, means normally operatively connecting each handle with its associated bolt, means for disabling said last means and for disconnecting each handle from its associated bolt, a single controller, motion transmitting connections between said controller and said disabling means and operable by said controller, and means for disabling said motion transmitting connections and for preventing disconnection of all said handles from their associated bolts when one of said doors is not in a position to be latched by said bolts.

2. A system for looking a plurality of doors from a single station comprising, in combination, a latch bolt associated with each door, a handle for each door, means normally operatively connecting each handle with its associated bolt, means for disabling said last means and for disconnecting each handle from its associated bolt,

a single controller, motion transmitting connections between said controller and said disabling means and operable by said controller, a post at one edge of each door, and means for disabling said motion transmitting means including a part on each post whereby to prevent disconnection of all said handles from their associated bolts when one of said doors is not in a position to be latched by its bolt.

3. A system for looking a plurality of doors from exterior and interior stations comprising, I

in combination, a latch bolt associated with each door, a handle on each side of each door for withdrawing said bolts and opening said doors, locking means operable from exterior and interior stations for preventing said handles from withdrawing said bolts to open said doors, and means for disabling said locking means if one or more of the doors are in open position.

4. A system for looking a plurality of doors comprising, in combination, a latch bolt associated with each door, exterior and interior handles on each door, means for connecting said handles of each door with their associated latch bolt independently of each other, means for locking said exterior handles against actuation of said latch bolts, means for locking said interior handles against actuation of said latch bolts, and means preventing operation of either of said locking means if one or more doors are not in a position to be latched by said bolts.

5. A system for locking a plurailty of doors comprising, in combination, a latch bolt associated with each door, exterior and interior handles on each door, each handle being adapted to withdraw its associated latch bolt and open the door independently of movement of the other handle on the door, locking means associated with said exterior handles for effecting a locking operation exterior of said doors whereby to prevent both said exterior handles and said interior handles from withdrawing said latch bolts, locking means associated with said interior handles for effecting a locking operating interior of said doors whereby to prevent both said exterior handles and said interior handles from withdrawing said latch bolts, and means associated with all said doors for preventing the operation of both of said locking means if one or more of said doors are not in a position to be latched by said bolts.

6. A system for locking a plurality of doors comprising, in combination, a latch bolt associated with each door, exterior and interior handles on each door, each handle being adapted to withdraw its associated latch bolt and open the door independently of movement of the other handle on the door, locking means associated with said exterior handles for effecting a locking operation exterior of said doors whereby to prevent both said exterior handles and said interior handles from withdrawing said latch bolts, looking means associated with said interior handles for efiecting a locking operation interior of said doors whereby to prevent both said exterior handles and said interior handles from withdrawing said latch bolts, means requiring the restoration of the said locking means that is actuated to effect a locking operation in order to reestablish the operating relation between all said handles and their associated latch bolts to permit said handles to again withdraw said latch bolts, and means associated with all said doors for preventing the operation of both of said locking means if one or more of said doors are not in a position to be latched by said bolts.

'7. A system for locking a plurality of doors comprising, in combination, a latch bolt associated with each doors, exterior and interior handles on each door, each handle being adapted to withdraw its associated latch bolt and open the door independently of movement of the other door, mechanism for disabling the operative relation between both handles on each door and their associated latch bolt, an exterior controller, an interior controller, motion transmitting connections between said controllers and said disabling means and operable by said controllers, and means associated with said doors for blocking the operation of said motion transmitting connections if one or more of said doors are not in a position to be latched by said bolts.

8. A system for looking a plurality of doors comprising, in combination, a latch bolt associated with each door, a handle on each side of each door for withdrawing its associated bolt and opening the door independently of movement of the other handle, an operating connection between each handle and its associated latch bolt, a locking device on each side of said doors for effecting a locking operation from either side of the doors, each of said locking devices disabling said operating connections between the handles of each door and their associated latch bolt, motion transmitting connections between said locking means and said operating connections, and means controlled by the position of said doors for disabling said motion transmitting connections.

9. A locking mechanism for a door comprising a bolt for engaging an adjacent keeper to keep the door in closed position, a handle on each side of said door for withdrawing said bolt and opening the door independently of movement of the other handle, locking means for disconnecting both handles from said bolt and thereby preventing said bolt from being withdrawn to open said door, and means for preventing the operation of said locking means if said bolt is not engaged in said keeper.

10. A locking mechanism for a door comprising a bolt for engaging an adjacent keeper to keep the door in closed position, a handle on each side of said door for withdrawing said bolt and opening the door independently of movement of the other handle, locking devices on opposite sides of the door, the operation of either locking device disconnecting both handles from said bolt and thereby preventing said bolt from being withdrawn to open said door, and means for preventing the operation of either locking device if said bolt is not engaged in said keeper.

11. A locking system for a plurality of doors comprising, in combination, a latch bolt associated with each of said doors, bolt actuating means on each door, a post adjacent one edge of each door, means operably disconnecting each bolt actuating means from its associated bolt including a movable part on said adjacent post, means operable from a single station operably associated with said movable part for actuating the same, and means for disabling said movable part if certain of said doors are not in closed position.

12. A locking system for a plurality of doors comprising, in combination, a locking mechanism on each door, locking means for locking one of said locking mechanisms, means for transmitting the locking action of said locking means to the other locking mechanisms including a plurality of movable elements adapted to project from the open edge of each door and intermediate members in the adjacent post operably associated with said movable elements to transmit motion between said movableelements of all said doors, and means adapted to project between the open edge of each doorand the adjacent post preventing operation of said movable elements if certain of said doors are open.

13. A locking mechanism for a door comprising a bolt for engaging an adjacent keeper to keep the door in closed position, a handle on said door for withdrawing said bolt and opening the door, means for rendering said handle ineffective to withdraw said bolt, including a movable part, and a movable member adapted when the door is open to project from the open edge of the door whereby to block the movement of said movable part and render said means inoperative to render said handle inefiective, said movable member being displaceable when the door is moved to closed position.

14. A locking mechanism for a door comprising a bolt for engaging an adjacent keeper to keep the door in closed position, a handle on said door for withdrawing said bolt and opening the door, means for rendering said handle ineffective to withdraw said bolt, and a pivotally mounted member disposed within the door adapted to project from the open edge of the door when the door is open, said member having a portion thereof moving into the path of a portion of said means to block the same and prevent the operation of said means when said movable member projects from the open edge of the door, there being means associated with said member adapt ed to effect camming of said member within the door when the door is closed.

ALEXANDER C. FINDLAY. 

